Writers

Ireland take one-point lead to halftime

Ireland scored the only try of the first half to secure a 10-9 halftime lead over the All Blacks at a chilly AMI Stadium in Christchurch for the second Steinlager Series Test on Saturday.

Although that was only after a Dan Carter penalty goal attempt from 53m on the hooter fell just under the crossbar.

Ireland absorbed initial pressure from New Zealand, including a tighthead taken at the first scrum, and then on the back of two superb clearing kicks, one of 60m from his own goal-line, by first five-eighths Jonathon Sexton, opened the scoring with a 10th minute try.

Ireland used its lineout to effect, mauling the ball superbly and it was halfback Conor Murray who despite having no blindside support, took the short course to get the ball over for the try. Sexton added the conversion. Nine minutes later he added a penalty goal.

Two Carter penalty goals in the 20th and 28th minutes got the All Blacks back in touch and looking more settled as the put the Irish defences under real pressure.

A poor Ireland lineout throw was secured by New Zealand and Ireland infringed at a ruck handy enough for Carter to add his third penalty goal in the 33rd minute and then from the re-start the ball failed to go 10 metres.